in, and we published it because we had given him a big
advance and had paid a lot of money for pictures and maps.
But of course it didn't sell very well because, by the time
that we brought it out, it was not only the end of the first
year--it was the end of the second year. By that time,
World War II had started.

Q:

That shows you.

Cerf:

It was while we were working with Geddes, that another
fascinating personality popped up in my life. His little
daughter used to sit around with us, listening to her father.
She was Barbara Bel Geddes, destined to become a big star.
She is, as a matter of fact, featured in Albee's play now.

Geddes--one of the tricks that he played while I was
his friend--he was a devil. He had a failure once and came
to a party a few nights after the play had opened and
closed, dressed as an undertaker with all the reviews pinned
to his buttonhole. He was being a good sport!

Q:

What a great way!

Cerf:

But he did a terrible thing. He assembled at a
dinner party some of his most important friends--people like
Bernard Baruch and Albert Lasker and the Mayor and Vanderbilts
and whatnot. He knew everybody. He told all these big
shots that he was making a private movie and he wanted them